Welcome to Sheffield Loop! Your one place for everything that matters in the Steel City.

Clear skies over Sheffield tonight and a mild 11°C, enjoy it, because rain is on the way by Wednesday evening.

In today's Loop: your council tax bill is about to go up, medieval Sheffield is causing expensive problems at Castlegate, and a charity at the cathedral needs the city's help.

Sheffield City Council will vote next Wednesday, March 4, on a plan to raise council tax by the legal limit.

Most residents in Band A properties will see their bills increase by at least £1.30 per week if the budget passes.

The council needs to find £23.3m in savings to balance its £699.1m budget for the 2026/27 financial year.

Social care costs for adults and children account for £91.2m of the total financial pressure on the city.

A hardship fund for those least able to pay will be increased by £200,000 to reach a total of £2.8m.

New play equipment at Firth Park and Mosborough remains part of the capital spending programme despite the cuts.

City residents will pay more for local services while the council attempts to avoid using its financial reserves.

Sheffield City Council is spending £1 million from Clean Air Zone revenues on new air quality initiatives.

Over £900,000 of the total funding specifically targets projects to reduce pollution exposure for young people.

Bikeability North will provide cycle training for 400 children to build riding confidence.

Ten new cycle storage units and 20mph speed limits are arriving at 22 schools across the city.

The School Streets initiative will also close roads to traffic at 19 schools during drop-off and pick-up times.

Existing residents gain long-term secure bike storage through an £81,000 commitment to maintain 40 facilities for a decade.

New drivers can access a free 90-minute electric vehicle experience to test green transport options.

Families and pupils will see reduced traffic danger and lower emissions directly at their school gates.

The Archer Project is seeking £2m to completely rebuild its headquarters on Campo Lane.

Fundraising has already reached £450,000 to modernize the facility located at Sheffield Cathedral.

The charity supported 1,200 individuals and served over 23,000 meals during 2025.

Organizers are asking local businesses for financial donations or contributions of labor and materials.

A new layout will improve how the charity helps people recover from homelessness rather than just providing immediate food.

Supporters can donate now to ensure services continue once the new base opens to the public.

Construction crews at Castlegate uncovered a medieval well and 200-year-old slaughterhouses while building a new public park.

The project now faces an £8.5 million shortfall against its original £15 million price tag.

Excavations by Wessex Archaeology also revealed drawbridge supports, steel-making furnaces, and civil war defences dating back to 1270.

Uncovering the River Sheaf for the first time in a century added further technical complexity and time to the build.

Council leaders plan to submit a new funding bid to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority this March.

The redesign ensures the birthplace of the city is preserved, but residents must wait longer to access the new 500-capacity event space.

Meersbrook Hall supporters have scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday, March 10, to discuss the building's future.

The 18th-century hall in Meersbrook Park has remained closed for the past three years after a long-term lease agreement failed.

A recent gathering at St Paul’s Church saw 34 people offer professional skills to help restore the building.

Organizers and council members are now coordinating to prevent the former Ruskin Museum site from being sold.

The next meeting takes place at 6pm in the church on Angerford Avenue to determine specific repair plans.

Local residents would regain access to public toilets and community spaces if the restoration project succeeds.